November 11 is one of our most important National Holidays, Veterans Day. It is a solemn day to celebrate, honor and remember all the men and women who have served the country. Many communities will have services and dinners, check your local listing. Veterans Day marks the beginning of several very important American Holidays.
Weather-wise it looks like it should be a nice weekend for many outdoor activities. The region was fortunate with Hurricane Sandy but it was still cold and rainy much of the time. The New York and New Jersey coastal areas were really slammed hard with the storm. Next week appears like it will be cooler in our region with snow showers.
Many are making frantic preparations for the onslaught of winter. (Like this place and every year there are promises to get it done in early spring, perhaps the sense of urgency to get moving makes it fun?) Wood ashes are also a great addition to the flower or vegetable garden. If your in the woods cutting, it is a great advantage to wildlife to make brush piles.
On the Wild Side
A Christmas Fern growing in an autumn woods.
Last week, wasn’t the best weather for hunting, although many hunters in my neighborhood have been seeing large flocks of turkey and seemingly plenty of deer. Most of the leaves are on the ground thanks to the windy and rainy conditions. About the only green remaining are the evergreen trees and the Christmas Ferns, a traditional and now forgotten plant used for holiday floral decorations. Christmas Ferns are a great perennial choice for the yard.
Rifle season for whitetail deer opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving. For many, it is also a very important and traditional part of holiday season. The rifle season will open on Nov. 24
Northwestern Pennsylvania Maple Association
The association will have the first annual Maple Expo, called the Lake Erie Maple Exposition (LEME). It will be held at Northwestern High School on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. LEME is also being co-sponsored by maple organizations in Ohio and New Year. According to Daryl Sheets of Meadville, who was instrumental in organizing the event, the Expo is geared for all producers, from the backyard to large commercial operations. Steele also said November was chosen as the month for the Expo since it is the slowest time of the year for the producers and provides ample time for them to get together.
Laura Dengler of the NW Pennsylvania Maple Association will be sending her favorite sweet potato recipe for Thanksgiving dinner or leftovers. The Thanksgiving Holiday is set for Nov. 22. The recipe will be posted next week.
For more information on the Expo or some flavorful recipes, check out the organizations Web site at pamaple.org
Crawford County Conservation District – Woodcock Creek Nature Center
All educational events are free and open to public, however, registration is required. It is simple. Just call the Woodcock Creek Nature to register at 814-763-5269.
NOVEMBER
GREEN ENERGY
Tuesday, Nov. 13 4:30 p.m.
— 5:30 p.m.
Are you interested in finding out more about how
you can conserve at home? Join Amy Fuller, CCC,
Manager of Communications, Northwestern Rural
Electric Cooperative for a look at green energy
alternatives and energy conservation.
FOREST AND NATURALIZED PLANT PRUNING
Tuesday, Nov. 20 4:30 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.
This presentation of Pruning Landscape Shrubs will
discuss reasons for pruning and best plant health care
practices. Participants will join Scott Sjolander, Penn
State Extension Urban Forester, to learn about woody
plant biology and reactions to wounding, encouraging
long plant service. The session will focus particularly
on some landscape and fruit shrubs commonly used.
Dress for indoors lecture and outdoors demonstration
if weather permits.”
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